Keyboard perforator and counter



May 1s, 1931.

' E. S. LARSON ET AL KEYBOARD PERFORATOR AND COUNTER 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 27, 1935 LEVIN May 18, 1937.

E. S. LARSON ET AL KEYBOARD PERFORATOR AND COUNTER Filed April 27; 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l www EDWARD S. LARSON CARL A. LEVIN l NVENTORS BY//ff ATTORNEY May 18, 1937.

ME. s. LARsoN ET AL KEYBOARD lDERFORATOR, A`ND COUNTER Filed April 27, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 dlllmh".

Mull

EDWARD s. LARSON CARL A. x-:VIN

INVENToRs ATTORNEY Patented May 18, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KEYBOARDl PERFORATOR AND COUNTER Application April 27, 1935, Serial No. 18,574

17 Claims.

The present invention pertains to composing systems and apparatus therefor and particularly to perforators and counters for preparing a perforated strip for the automatic control of line composing and casting machines.

Composing machines of the linecasting type are provided with matrices which consist of small brass units carrying indented characters or intaglios, and which vary in thickness according to the width of the character impressed thereon.

The length of a line of composed matter is dependent not only upon `the number of matrices included in the line but also upon the cumulative thicknesses of the matrices composing the line. During the preparation of a perforated strip representing lines of composed matter, it is necessary to totalize the various thicknesses of matrices corresponding to code perforations made in the strip, and translate the information upon an indicator to permit the operator to determine the length of line remaining as each key is operated and thus judge the justiability of the line,

Besides the usual character matrices, composing machines of the particular type to which the present invention relates are also provided with expansible space bands whichA comprise a portion analogous to and having the contour of a character matrix and which are positioned in the line of matrices usually between successive E() groups of character matrices representing words, and this portion has slidably articulated thereto and depending therefrom a wedge portion.

By means of these Wedge portions, the justifying matrices are expanded or adjusted between ,31.) certain ranges of thickness before the casting operation is performed. It is essential, therefore, that an indicator be provided which denotes not only the totalization of the character matrices but also the expansibility of the space [m bands, that these two functions be performed simultaneously, and that the resultant effect be apparent to the operator at all times.

Matrices of the same style or font are stored in a magazine, and these magazines are adapted 5 to be utilized interchangeably in the composing machine. Corresponding matrices in the difierent fonts may vary in thickness; thus, lines of the same length but composed of a different style or font of type will contain a different 50 number of characters per line, which may require a different degree of justification.

The present invention has for its salient object the provision of an extremely simple and compact counting device for counting cumulativeiy the Widths of matrices of any font of type'.

A principal feature of the inventionresides in providing a keyboard perforator and counter having a readily removable and interchangeable code bar unit to render the counting device utilizable for totalizing incrementally the matrix 5 widths of any font of type.

To achieve the above and other objects of the invention, the keyboard perforator and counter according to Patent No. 2,059,250 granted November3, 1936 to I-I. L. Krum is modied to ac- 10 commodate an interchangeable code bar unit. Reference should be made to the patent for a full and comprehensive disclosure oi the keyboard perforator and counter. In the embodiment disclosed herein, the keyboard includes key- 15 levers arranged in a manner characteristic of typewriters which operate, through a permutation selector mechanism contained in the housing of a perforator and counter apparatus, to position permutably a series of code discs of a selector to select one of a circumferentially arranged series of rods. A counting barrel to which a constant torque is imparted is provided with a circumferentially arranged series of slides, a selected one of which cooperates with the selected rods to determine the degree of rotation of the counting barrel. The selector rods are sixteen in number, fourteen of which represent a series ranging from ve units to eighteen unitsv inclusive, since it is not necessary in practice to employ matrices smaller than five units in width. The remaining two rods are representative of the zero position and function respectively. Thus, as the stop member or counting barrel is rotated through variable angles according to the selecting rod operated, like rotation is imparted to a spiral gear operatively associated with the counting barrel, and through a suitable gear train variable motion is imparted to a matrix pointed associated with an indicator dial. Hence, as the keys are depressed, the matrix pointer is moved through variable cumulative distances corresponding to the widths or thicknesses of the matrices represented by the keys. The variable motion imparted to the matrix pointer may be adjusted for different fonts of type by interposing between the keylevers and the selector mechanism for the counting device, an interchangeable code bar unit comprising a plurality of pairs of coded elements, one 50 pair allotted to each keylever and operable thereby.

A more comprehensive understanding of the present invention may be had from the following description, taken in conjunction with the ac- 55 held by individual springs I3.

'extend over a number of pairs of selector bars erally by the numeral I9.

companying drawings wherein like reference characters represent similar parts throughout the several views.

Fig. l is a perspective view of a perforator and counter with parts broken away showing the apparatus necessary for a clear understanding of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the micrometer attachment shown only partly in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken through the code disc selector and longitudinally with respect to the selector bars to show the correlation between the selector mechanism and the interchangeable code bar unit;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken substantially on line 4 4 of Fig. 3, showing the code bar unit in the shift position;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. l, showing the code bar unit in the unshift position;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the adaptation of the present invention to the device shown in United States Patent No. 2,043,231, granted June 9, 1936 to S. Bracken et al.; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the spring retention means for the coded elements contained in the interchangeable code bar unit. Having reference to Fig. l, it is noted that most of the parts shown have their counterpart in the structure illustrated in Patent No. 2,059,250, the entire perorating mechanism not being shown but which is, nevertheless, considered as operatively associative with the present invention. In Fig. 1 a plurality of keylevers II are pivoted on a common rod I2 and are normally These keylevers `I4 and I 5 included in the perorator selecting unit indicated generally by the numeral I6, and pairs of bars I1 and I3 included in the selecting unit of the counting mechanism indicated gen- Each keylever EI is arranged to depress one of the bars I4 or l5 of each pair of bars. Through the medium of rocker arms 2l, the bar Ill or I5 lifts the other bar of the pair to reciprocate longitudinally a permutation bar 22 cooperatively associated with and subjacently disposed to each pair of bars I4 and I5, to impart corresponding movement tothe associated pivoted member 23. The members 23 as disclosed in Patent No. 2,059,250 control the operation of punch interference elements 24 in the tape perforating unit 25. The bars 22 are set in characteristic combinations, and for this purpose bars I4 and I5 are provided with notched upper edges, the bars of each pair being complements; thatY is, the high portions of one bar are disposed opposite to the low portions of the other bar of the same general pair.

Interposed between the series oi keylevers II and the counter selector unit I9 is a removable and interchangeable code bar unit indicated generally by thenumeral 26 which carries therein a plurality of pairs of coded elements 21. The present invention contemplates the substitution, for the single counting code levers |06 or Patent No. 2,059,250, of a pair of elements 21, one for upper case characters and the other for lower case characters. In this manner, a pair of counting code elements is provided which is slidable vertically in a common slot below each keylever, the two counting code elements being held together by means of dowel pins, one pin in each code bar or element. The designations 30 on the code elements 21, which represent the number of units, or the unit-group, to which the character represented thereby belongs, are made in such manner that when the two code elements are assembled, the lower case count may be read on the face of the front bar nearest to the left end, and the upper case count may be observed on the face of the rear bar through the window or aperture in the front bar. The advantage of providing the counting code elements in pairs resides in the fact that these elements may be reversed end for end, either jointly or individually, and may thus be utilized in one position for upper case counts, and in reversed position for lower case counts. Further, the individual elements may be paired or combined indiscriminately one with another, and variably with respect to diierent codes. Thus there is allotted to each of the keylevers II a pair of coded elements 21 which coact with the pairs of permutation bars I1 and I3 of the counter selecting unit I9.

The removable code bar unit 26 for carrying the pairs of coded elements 21 comprises a channel shaped member having a web portion 28 (Fig. 4), and side walls 23 and 3I, which are in turn provided with anges 32 and 33 respectively. The web 28 is provided with rectangular apertures 34 (Fig. l) to guide the vertical projections 35 and 36 of the coded elements 21. The flanges 32 and 33 have notches in vertical alignment with the apertures 34 to insure the vertically guided movement of the coded elements 21.

The coded elements 21 are retained in their vertical or uppermost position by individual detent springs 31, each of which, as indicated in Fig. '1, comprises a coil spring having its extremities extended tangentially thereto and oppositely directed therefrom, which in turn terminate in laterally disposed portions 38 (Fig. '7) adapted to coact with the inner surfaces respectively of projections 35 and 33 of the coded elements 2l. These springs 31 are mounted upon a rod 39 carried in the unit 23. A guide member il guides the extremities of the coil spring 31. With detent springs according to this arrangement, the code elements 21 are readily removable and insertable and are given a oating construction. To insert a pair of code elements 21, they need only be assembled by means of their dowel pins and slid up into the notches in flanges 32 and 33 and into the corresponding apertures 34 until portions 38 of the spring engage the undercut portions of projections 35 and 36, the spring then acting to urge the pair of elements 21 upwardly against the depending flanges of member 4i. The pair of elements 21 is readily removable by urging the pair downwardly under slight pressure, thus flexing the tangentially extended portionsv of spring 31 until the ends 38 thereof slip over the inner apical portions of projections 35 and 36 of the code elements 21.

A shiftable carrier or cradle indicated generally by the numeral 42 (Fig. 4) controls the movement of the removable code bar unit 26 from shift to unshift position and vice versa. Carrier l2 comprises a bottom plate Q3 having depending ends 44 with slots 45 to engage rollers 136 carried on studs d1 secured to a guide comb bar 48 (Figs. l and 3) of the counter selector mechanism I9. Mounted upon and secured to the bottom plate 43 are a pair of Z-shaped members "i9 and 5I which together with plate i3 form a track or runway for the code bar unit 26. Thus, the code bar unit 26 is movable endwise, or transversely with respect to the keylevers.

The shifting of the code bar unit 26 from unshift to shift position and vice versa is controlled by a shift bail 52 operated by the shift keylever 53 and the unshift keylever 54 (Fig. 1). Keylevers 53 and 54, like the keylevers I I, are pivotally mounted on rod I2. Associated with the shift keylever 53 is a lever 55 pivoted at 56 to bracket 51 carried on the under side of the base portion or housing 58. The extremity of lever 55 associated with the keylever 53 terminates in an abutting portion 59, and adjacent to portion 59 are two vertically extending projections 6I and 62 (Fig. 4) which are oppositely deflected so as to embrace the keylever 53V to act as a guide therefor. The opposite extremity of lever 55 is` pivotally connected to a link 63 (Fig. 1) connected to bracket 64 secured to the bail 52.` Therefore, when the keylever 53 is depressed, the lever 55 will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 1) to rotate, in turn, through links 63, bail 52 in a clockwise direction about its trunnion 65. This movement of bail 52 will cause, through a pair of links 68, the carrier 42 to shift toward the left (as viewed in Fig. 4) which is the shift position of the code bar unit 26.

Similarly, unshift keylever 54 is carried on pivot rod I2 and has associated therewith a lever 51 pivoted ati68 to a bracket 69 carried by the base portion 58. The end of the lever 61 contiguous to the key lever 54 is constructed in the same manner as the corresponding end of lever 55. The rearward end of lever 61 is connected to a link 1I which in turn is connected to a bracket 'i2 secured to bail 52. ITherefore, when the lever 54 is depressed, counterclockwise motion is imparted to lever 51, which imparts, through link 1i, counterclockwise motion to bail 52. Through links 6B, the carrier 42, and hence code bar unit 25, is shifted toward the right as viewed in Fig. 4 to the unshift position.

Carried on the bail 52 (Fig. 1) is an arm 13 which cooperates with a detent member` 14 mounted on a bracket 15. Member 14 is in the form of a bell crank lever, one arm of which carries a roller 1B coacting with a restraining pro-- jection 11 integral with arm 13, and the other arm of lever 14 is connected to a spring 18. By virtue of this detent means, the bail 52, and hence the code bar unit 25, will be retained in its shift or unshift position until actuated to its opposite position.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 4, there is contemplated a counter selector mechanisrn adapted to a four-unit code, which, as set forth in Patent No. 2,059,250, is sumcient to embrace all of the permuted combinations required for the groups represented by six to eighteen unit thicknesses, inclusively. However, as Will more fully appear hereinafter, the modification shown in Fig. 6 contemplates the employment of a five-unit code, for the reason, as indicated in Patent No. 2,043,231, that an extra element is necessary to control the auxiliary counting device interposed in the gear tra-in between the aforementioned counting barrel 98 and the matrix pointer lil.

Subjacently disposed to each pair of selector bars I1 and I8 is a permutation bar 19 which is operatively related thereto through the medium of rocker arms 8l (Fig. 3) located near each eX- trernity of the selector bars I1 and I8. These rocker arms 8I, like rocker arms 2l, are disposed in such manner that the depression of one selector bar of each pair of bars I1 and I8 causes the operation of the other bar of that pair in a reverse direction, and causes the bar 19 to be reciprocated longitudinally 'upon the alternate actuations of said pair of bars.

When any keylever I I is depressed, the selector bars I1 and I8 will be moved in accordance with the location of the projections 40 on the code elements `21 to cause the movement of the permutation bars 19 in yvarying permutations. As indicated in Fig. 4, the code projections 40 on one of the elements -21 are effective in one shift position and the' projections 40 of the other element 21 of thefpair are effective in another shift position. The cradle 42 is shown in Fig. 4 in its lefthand or 'shift position, in which position the projections 40 of the rear element 21 are observed as being in cooperative relation with the bars I8 of the pairs of selector bars i1 and I8. In the position shown, the projections 40 on the front element 21 are observed as being out of cooperative relation with bars I1 and I8. When the cradle 42 is moved to the unshift position shown in Fig. 5, the projections 4D on the front element 21 are disposed in` cooperative relation with the bars I1 and I8 and the projections on the rear element 21 are out of cooperativerelation with bars I1 and I8. Moreover, the front counting code element 21` (which, as indicated, is an eighteen unit element) is provided with projections 48 which are non-cooperative in theshift position in Fig. 4 with either of theselector bars I1 or I8. But in the unshift position shown in Fig. 5, the first two projections`40 of the front element 21 (counting from the left), are cooperative with the bars I8 of the corresponding rst two pairs of selector bars I1 and I 8, and the next two projections 40 are cooperative with the bars I1 of the third and fourth pairs of bars I1 and I8. In connection with the projections 40 on the rear bar 21 (which in the instance shown represents a fourteen-unit element), these projections, in the shift position shown in Fig. 4, are cooperative with the bars I8 of each of the pairs of selector bars I1 and I8; and of course in the unshift position shown in Fig. 7, the projections 40 are not cooperative with any of the selector bars I1 and I 8. These bars 19`are, as clearly described in Patent No. 2,059,250, operatively connected with a corresponding series of Y-shaped members 82 (Fig. 3) which will be positioned in accordance with the operation of the permutation bars 19, and will control the setting of a plurality of notched discs 83, forming a part of code disc selector indicated generally by the numeral 88.

Individual to each of the members 82 and notched 'code discs 83 is a transfer lever 84 `which is pivotally mounted on a rod 85 journaled `in a bracket 86 which is rocked through the coaction of cam follower 81 and operating cam 88 mounted onlthe operating shaft 89, in a manner described in said patent, to reciprocate the transfer levers 84 vertically. The cam 88 mounted on shaft 89 is provided with two symmetrical apices to permit a complete cyclic operation ofthe bracket 86 and levers 84 for each one-half revolution of shaft 89 and cam 88. For each operation of the bracket 86 carrying the transfer levers 84 the latter will be moved into operative relation with the Y-shaped levers 82; that is, Whether the members 82 are swung to the right or left as viewed in Fig. 1, the transfer levers 84 will engage or be freeof the upper end of Y-shaped members 82 to cause the discs 83 to be rocked in either a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction. With the Y-shaped members 82 `operated in varying permutations in accordance with the movement of the permutation sociated spi-lng 93.

bars 19, the discs 83 will likewise be rotated in varying permutations and will correspondingly cause the alignment c'f the various groups of notches formed in the periphery of the discs.

Cooperating with the notches in the discs 83 is a plurality of ,rods 9|, there being a rod individual to each set of notches (when aligned) and arranged with anti-friction rollers 92. Each of the rods 9| is centripetally biased by an individual spring 93. In this manner the rods 9| normally tend to move radially toward a common center into the notches of the disc 83, but inasmuch as the notches are arranged so that for eachsetting of the discs only one group thereof willbe in transverse alignment, only one of the rods 9| at a time will be moved into the notches. Also, the notches in the disc 83 are arranged so that when the discs are moved for a subsequent selection, the previously selected rod 9| will be cammed outwardly against the action of its as- Operatively secured to the right-hand end of each of the rods 9| is a stop member 94 (Fig. 1) which slides in suitable slots formed in a circular member 95.

To the right of the code disc selector 89 (as viewed in Fig. 1) is a counting barrel or unit 96, forming a part of the counting mechanism, which is rotated by power communicated from a continuously rotating motor (not shown) through a friction clutch 91. The counting unit 95 comprises a plurality of circumferentlally arranged slides 98 which are longitudinally slid- -able and adapted to coact with the stop members 94 to determine the degree of rotation of unit' 96, and any of the slides 98 which are foundin the zero position are operated invariably by aY lever (not shown), while a previously operated slide is simultaneously restored to its normal or nonoperated position by a collar 99 to accomplish through the coaction of an operated slide 98 and a selected stop member 94, the incrementally progressive movement of the counting unit 96. The counting unit 96 includes a shaft |9| on which is formed a worm |92. Attention is directed herein to the structural feature of counting unit 95 in that it is of a very small diameter, thereby permitting of a high speed of rotation. By having the parts near the axis of rotation, the centrifugal action is reduced and the moment 'of inertia is materially less, which makes possible the rotation of the parts at very high speeds.

As previously mentioned, the slides 98 cooperate with the rods 9| to arrest the rotation of the counting unit 99 which is driven through a friction clutch 91 to cause a corresponding degrec of rotation to worm |92. The rotation of the worm |92 which meshes with a gear |93 secured toa shaft |94 causes the corresponding angular rotation of a shaft |95 through gears |99 and |91. A worm |98 is fixed to the right extremity of shaft |95 and is adaptedto mesh with a worm wheel |99 associated with a matrix pointer l, completing a gear train between the counting unit 96 and the matrix pointer As shown in Fig. 1, the indicator comprises a portion H2 adapted to carry slidably thereon a dial ||3 provided adjacent its arcuate edge with a scale or series of graduations representing the number of ems in a line of maximum length. The reverted end of the matrix pointer I moves along this edge of the dial from left to right, towards zero, in response to the totalization of the matrix thicknesses by the counting mechanism. Thus, the distance from the pointer to zero indicates the amount of space left in the line to be lled with matrices when the line contains no space bands. However, when space bands are inserted in the line, the space remaining to be lled varies with the number of space bands inserted. S0, to indicate the justiflability of the composed line, a pair of space band pointers ||4 and l|5 are provided, the distance between the pointers ,H4 and 5 indicating the amount of expansibility of the space bands.

In the embodiment shown, the dial ||3 is articulated to the minimum space band pointer ||5 through pin ||6 and is movable with said pointer. The space left in the line to be filled when space bands are inserted is represented by the distance between the matrix pointer and any point betwen space band pointers ||4 and ||5. The manner of effecting the differential or proportional movement of pointers ||4 and ||5 toward the left (from the Zero position) is fully set forth in Patent No. 2,059,250 and need not be reiterated here. The matrix pointer as shown in Fig. 1, is disposed between a flanged sleeve ||1, carrying gear E99 and a disc H8, and as fully described in said patent, the matrix pointer is rendered movable with the gear |99 by reason of the frictional resistance generated between it and the disc ||8 by a spring H9 through rod |2|. To effect the return of the kmatrix pointer leftwardly (as viewed in Fig. 1) to its initial or beginning-of-line position against a stop (notshown), the rod |2| integrally formed with disc |8 is pushed forwardly by a suitable means against the compressive action of spring H9 to suspend the holding action of` member H9 and permit matrix pointer to be returned to its initial position by a spring |22 acting on a cord |23.

Fixed to shaft |95 is a gear |24 (Figs. 1 and 2) adapted to mesh with a spiral gear |25 fixed to a shaft |25, which as shown in Fig. 2, has secured to its upper extremity a units pointer |21 which cooperates with a units scale or micrometer |28. The scale |28 is rotatably carried on a bracket |29 mounted on the base 59. Also carried by the bracket |29 is a tubing |3| for supporting the shaft |26. The scale |28 is rotatable manually in either direction independently of the pointer |21 by means of a handle |32.

Referring again to Fig. 1, the gear |24 is rotated in unison with gear |91 and to the same angular extents. Since the unit movement of the matrix pointer along the arcuate edge of scale |3 can only be estimated between the smallest subdivisions shown on the scale I3, the function of the micrometer scale |28 will become apparent. Each subdivision on the scale l28rrepresents one unit; thus for a matrix thickness count of eight units, for example, the pointer |21 will rotate in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 2) a distance equal to eight such subdivisions. To facilitate the reading of the movement of pointer |21 accurately, the scale |29 is rendered movable by means of handle |32, so that before a counting operation is initiated by the depression of a keylever, the scale |29 is rotated so as to align one of the graduations with the pointer |21. Then as a key is operated, the movement of the pointers lll and |21 in units can be accurately ascertained.

As previously alluded to, the modified embodiment of the invention as illustrated in Fig. 6 contemplates the utilization of an auxiliary counting device such as disclosed in Patent No.

2,043,231, and the addition of another pair of selector bars |4| and 42 to control the operation of the auxiliary counting device, which is indicated generally by numeral |43.

Briefly, the auxiliary counting device |43, as set forth in said Patent No. 2,043,231, comprises a differential device for adding an invariable and denite increment to selected ones of the unit measurements of a variable nature controlled by the counting mechanism 86. As pointed out in Patent No. 2,043,231, the differential device |43 in its entirety is substituted for the gear |01 (Fig. 1). Gear |44 thereof (Fig. 6), which is analogous to gear |01, is loosely mounted on shaft |05, and has aflixed thereto, by means of studs |45, an internal gear |46. Also loosely mounted `on the base 58.

on the shaft |05 is a ratchet wheel |41 which carries a pair of planetary gears or pinions |48 (only one of which is shown) diametrically opposed to` each other and in mesh with a gear |49 fixed to and concentric With both the shaft |05 and the internal gear |46.

Associatedv with ratchet wheel |41 is a pawl |5| pivotally carried at the extremity of one arm of a lever |52 (Fig. 6) loosely mounted on shaft |05. A spring actuated detent member |53 is provided for ratchet wheel |41. Pawl |5| is normally urged into coaction with ratchet wheel |41 by a spring |54 distended between a spring post secured to the pawl |5| and a spring post secured to lever |52. Pawl |5| and the arm of lever |52 on which it is carried are actuated, as will presently appear, by an extension |55 on the spacer bail or bell crank |56.

Depending from the pivot |51, which is also common to pawl |5|, is an arm |58 having near its lower extremity a slot in which operates a stud |59 carried on a slidable member |6|. Member |6| is slidably carried on a pair of studs |62 secured to a bracket (not shown) mounted Arm |58 is also provided with a shouldered portion |63 which cooperates with the extremity of arm |55 so that when the arm |58 is actuated to bring shoulder |63 into cooperation with arm |55, the arm |55 as it is oscillated will cause a downward movement of pawl |5| to rotate the ratchet |41 through an angular distance of one tooth.

The lower edge of member |6| is provided with a pair of spaced depending projections adapted to embrace arm |64 of a bell crank lever |65, the other arm of which is pivotally connected to a link |66 extending from said arm to a lever |61 carried on the pivot shaft common to the Y- shaped levers 82. The lower end of lever 61 is articulated to a permutation bar |68 subjacently disposed to and associated with the pair of selector bars |4| and |42 through a rocker member |69. The actuation of bars |4| and |42 by means of the keylever through a coded element 21 having a code projection therefor will cause, through rocker arm |69, the longitudinal reciprocation of permutation bar |68, depending upon whether or not it is desired to operate the auxiliary counting device. When it is desired to do so, the bar |4| is depressed to the position shown in Fig. 6, whereupon the permutation bar |68 has assumed its rightward position and lever |61 its counterclockwise position, link |66 its leftward position, bell crank its counterclockwise position, and slide |6| and arm |58 their rightward position, bringing shoulder 63 beneath arm |55. As is disclosed in Patent No.

2,043,231, the keylever operates, simultaneously with the operation of the selector bars of the selector mechanism I9, a universal bar (not shown) which trips a clutch to initiate the rotation of an operating shaft 89 which is permitted to make one-half revolution, the cam |12 thereon acting to oscillate the bail |56 and hence impart downward movement to arm |55 which in turn, through arm |58 and pawl |5|, rotates the ratchet |41 through a distance equivalent to one tooth.

As also indicated in Patent No. 2,043,231, the rotation of gear |48 and shaft |05 and consequently the movement of matrix pointer is dually controlled, in one instance by the counting unit 96 and in the other by the combined effect or the counting unit 96 and ratchet wheel |41. For a description of the detailed operation of the combined actions of the primary counting device 86 and the auxiliary counting device |43, reference should be had to Patent No. 2,043,231 since the detailed structure of said devices is not a part of the present invention, the present invention having reference to the interchangeable code bar means for actuating the selector bars in the counting mechanism I9 to control the operation of said devices.

As indicated in Figs. l and 3, a latching means is provided for retaining the interchangeable code bar unit 26 in its set or home position. In the embodiment disclosed, this latching means comprises a series of depending projections, formed integral with the right end of web 28 (as viewed in Fig. l) and includes a pair of spaced depending portions |82 and |83 adapted to be digitally manipulated, and an intermediate latching portion |84 adapted to cooperate with a latch |85 in the form of a bell crank lever pivoted at |86 and acted upon by a spring |81 (Fig. 3). Latch |85 is mounted in a housing |88 secured to the portion 44 of the carrier 42. The particular advantage of this structure resides in permitting the ready removal of the code bar unit 26 by engaging the portions |82 and |83 with two nonadjacent fingers, and the convenient manipulation of the latch -I 85 by the intermediate finger to impart to said latch slight downward pressure to unlatch the same.

Inasmuch as numerous changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, it is not intended that this invention be limited to the specic language of the foregoing description nor to the details of the accompanying drawings, but to be permitted instead a latitude of construction as indicated by the hereunto appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l1. In combination with a device for producing strips to control composing machines, a plurality of keylevers, a selecting mechanism operable in accordance with the operation of said keylevers comprising a detachable and interchangeable code `bar unit provided with a plurality of pairs of coded elements selectively and operatively related thereto, means facilitating the pairing indiscriminately of said elements, and means facilitating the insertion of interchangeable units.

2. In combination with a device for producing strips to control composing machines, a plurality of keylevers, a selecting mechanism operable in accordance with the operation of said keylevers comprising a detachable and interchangeable code bar unit provided with a plurality of pairs or coded elements selectively and operably related thereto, means facilitating the pairing indiscriminately of said elements, individual spring latch means for controlling the operativeness of each pair of elements, and means facilitating the insertion of interchangeable units.

3. In a keyboard device for making impressions on a tape to represent successive lines made up of characters of different widths, a series of keys, means for totalizing the thicknesses of the characters in a line, a selector mechanism individual to said means, and a pair of reversible and selectively combinable code members individual to each key, each member of said pair effective under predetermined conditions to selectively operate the selector mechanism.

4. In a keyboard device, a series of keylevers, mechanism adapted to be controlled by said keylevers, a pair of floating elements associated with each keylever, and means controlled by certain of said keylevers to render one or the other of said pair of elements effective to control said mechanism differently in accordance with the condition of said means.

5. In a keyboard apparatus, a series of keys, a counting mechanism comprising means to totalize variable additive amounts and to indicate continuously such totalizations, a unit carrying a plurality of pairs of code elements, means to control the operation of the counting mechanism according to one or the other of said elements, said code bar unit being adapted to be interchangeably insertable in the apparatus for interchange according to the font of type to be used, operative connection between the keys and said unit such that the code elements may be operated in a plurality of ways for each key, and means to select the way in which the code element is to be operated.

6. In a keyboard perforator, a perforating device, a counting device, selector mechanisms individual to each of said devices, a plurality of keylevers, a corresponding plurality of pairs of code elements, one pair associated with each keylever, a pair of special keylevers, means controlled by the alternate operation of said special keylevers to move the pairs of code elements collectively and simultaneously to either of two positions whereby said perforating device is operated invariably in the same manner, and said counting device can be operated in either of two different manners, depending on which element of the pair of elements is operative.

7. In a keyboard perforator, a perforating device, a counting device, selector mechanisms individual to each of said devices, a plurality of keylevers, a corresponding plurality of pairs of code elements disposed parallel to said keylevers and adapted to operate the selector mechanism individual to the counting device, and means to move said pairs of elements in unison to either of two positions so that said perforating device is operated invariably in the same manner and said counting device is operated in either of two diiferent manners depending on which element of the pair of elements is operative.

8. In an apparatus for preparing a record to be used to control line composing machines, a perforating mechanism, a counting mechanism, a group of transversely superpositioned keylevers and combination bars for controlling said lperforating mechanism, the combination of another group of paired elements having coded projections and bars for actuating the counting mechanism, and means for effecting a relative shifting movement between the coded elements and the bars whereby the counting mechanism may be operated variably according to one or the other element of each pair of elements while the perforating mechanism is operated invariably in the same manner.

9. In an apparatus for preparing a record to be used to control line composing machines, a perforating mechanism, a counting mechanism, a group of transversely superpositioned keylevers and combination bars for controlling said perforating mechanism, the combination of a group of paired elements having coded projections and bars for actuating the counting mechanism, and means for effecting a relative shifting movement between the coded elements and the bars whereby the counting mechanism may be directly operated by said keylevers variably according to one or the other element of each pair of elements while the perforating mechanism is operated invariably in the same manner.

10. In a keyboard apparatus, a plurality of sets of selectable elements, keylevers for operating said elements in different permutations, signal controlling means operated by one of the sets of elements, a counting mechanism controlled by the other set of elements through the instrumentality of a plurality of pairs of coded elements removably insertable collectively between said keylevers and said other set of elements, said counting mechanism including a code disc selecting device operable permutably, a series of members, one selected for each operation of said device, a counter, and means responsive to each operation of a keylever in cooperation with said selected member for determining the extent of operation of the counter.

11. In a keyboard perforator for making perforations in a tape to represent successive lines made up of characters of different widths, a series of keys, means for totalizing the thicknesses of the characters in a line, a selector mechanism individual to said means, means controlled by said totalizing means to indicate the cumulative thicknesses of the characters, a micrometer scale adjustable to indicate individual totalizing operations, and code members individual to each key effective under predetermined conditions to selectively operate the selector mechanism to actuate simultaneously said indicating means and said micrometer scale.

12. In a keyboard perforator for making perforations in a tape to represent successive lines made up of characters of diierent widths, a series of keys, means for totalizing the thicknesses of the characters in a line, a selector mechanism individual to said means, means controlled by said totalizing means to indicate the cumulative thicknesses of the characters, a micrometer scale adjustable to indicate individual totalizing operations, and a pair of code members individual to each key, each member of said pair effective under predetermined conditions to selectively operate the selector mechanism to actuate simultaneously said indicating means and said micrometer scale.

13. In a device for preparing control strips for the control of linecasting machines, means for applying to said control strips indicia representing characters of varying widths, a counting mechanism, an indicating mechanism controlled by said counting mechanism, and a micrometer indicator also controlled by said counting mechanism simultaneously with its control of said indicating mechanism.

14. In a device for preparing control strips for the control of linecasting machines, means for 75 applying to said control strips indicia representing characters of varying Widths, counting means, indicating means controlled by said counting means, and a micrometer indicator adjustable to indicate individual totalizing operations and controlled by said counting means simultaneously With its control of said indicating means.

15. In a device for preparing control strips for the control of linecasting machines, means for applying to said control strips indicia representing characters of Varying widths, counting means, an indicating mechanism controlled by said counting means, and a units indicator also con trolled by said counting mechanism simultaneously with its control of said indicating means.

16. In a device for preparing control strips for the control of linecasting machines, means for applying to said control strips indicia representing characters of varying Widths, counting means,

an indicating means controlled by said counting means; and a micrometer indicator also controlled by said counting mechanism simultaneously with its control of said indicating mechanism, said micrometer indicator having the scale thereof adjustable to designate any indication as a zero indication.

17. In a device for preparing control strips for the control of linecasting machines, means for applying to said control strips indicia representing characters of varying widths, counting means, an indicating means controlled by said counting means, and a micrometer indicator also controlled by said counting mechanism comprising a rotatable pointer and a scale adjustable with respect to said pointer to permit any portion of the scale to be brought into registry with the pointer.

EDWARD S. LARSON. CARL A. LEVIN. 

